The New Celebration Destination!

This year break away form the norm and celebrate your newfound freedom, milestones, and thank mom and dad with adventure. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations, and all the bachelor and bachelorette parties this time of year give plenty of reasons to celebrate. It’s how you celebrate that separates the norm from the unique, however. What better way to celebrate your newfound freedom after years of school, your new life with your best friend (or your last hurrah with your friends), and all that your parents do than getting outside?

People are shifting from the traditional and cliché for alternative forms of commemoration of their own and others achievements. More and more graduates are taking extra time after school to explore wildernesses near and far. Many grads are realizing that life experiences far outweigh material goods. In fact grads from both high school and college are using their money gifted from friends and relatives to take the road trip they’ve been dreaming of during long nights of cramming and paper writing. Mountains, forests, and discovering the deep natural world creates memories that last a lifetime.

Bachelor and bachelorette parties are leaving the downtowns and bars of big cities for extended fishing trips, alpine campsites, and canoe floats. I recently had the pleasure of taking part in a wilderness bachelor party and it was a great experience for everyone involved and memorable without the typical “what happened” hangover. There’s no better way to bond with your closest friends then to work together on the trail while exploring new terrain and accomplishing a challenge, whether that’s mountain trekking, hiking a long trail, or spending a few days on a rock face.

The same can be said when celebrating your parents. They’ve done a lot for you over the years. Many are treating their parents on the single day set aside for them to adventure in the backcountry. There are plenty of great spots to take mom or dad on their days for hikes, climbs, canoe and kayak trips no matter were you live. And a short road trip to the backcountry for a hike or other adventure is far more meaningful than dinner and a card anyway.

This year, join the many that are escaping into the wilderness to celebrate and say thank you. The memories you create will last your whole life and create lasting relationships whether that’s with the people you share your adventures or the backcountry itself.